Eight Signs Of A Good Selling Agent

Real estate agents are not all made equal, with some having qualities that others do not. These qualities can make or break your sale’s result and can shape your overall experience.

Here are eight signs of the top selling agents:

1. Attention to detail

While real estate agents need to be great with sales techniques, this doesn’t preclude a need for careful consideration of the smaller details. The best agents are keen to make sure your listing, including the presentation, the grammar in the advertising copy and the information provided, is accurate and the best it can be. This quality pays dividends in the long-run.

Ask: What are the top things I can do to make my listing shine?

2. Local knowledge

Top selling agents know their target areas like the back of their hand. This not only ensures they can appraise your home accurately, but also means they are acutely aware of local market conditions, the type of buyers looking and what sets your home apart in the suburb. They should be able to tell you how price can differ down to a street level, the most coveted pockets within an area and a range of recent sales.

Ask: What sort of buyer would be interested in buying my home?

3. Personal approach

Sales agents deal with people every day so it’s little wonder that many of them are skilled negotiators and conversationalists. Yet it’s agents who provide you a personal level of service, who tailor their approach based on your experience and your comfort, that you should keep an eye on. These agents find out about your own circumstances, such as whether you are downsizing or divorcing and needing to sell quickly, and react appropriately.Look for: An agent who asks you questions about your own situation before making decisions about your campaign.

Look for: An agent who asks you questions about your own situation before making decisions about your campaign.

4. Evidence-based judgments

By being at the coal-face of the market, your agent will know a lot of information by “osmosis”. But it’s those that can provide evidence to back up their appraisals and statements that will do well by you in the long-run. This evidence could be in the form of local sales, data from online portals, or even statistics that they have from their own office. Qualitative data, such as buyer feedback, is also evidence that should be considered.Look for: Statements that include hard information about other recent sales and how they have affected their assessment of your property.

Look for: Statements that include hard information about other recent sales and how they have affected their assessment of your property.

5. Understandable

Home owners usually only sell once every seven to 10 years, which means most peoples’ experience with property is fairly minimal. It’s not unusual to be confused or unsure about the process of selling. Good real estate agents should be able to explain things in a way that is clear, leaves you feeling comfortable with the decisions made and knowledgeable as to how the selling process works.Ask: Can you describe to me what happens when a buyer makes an offer? (Look for a succinct response.)

Ask: Can you describe to me what happens when a buyer makes an offer? (Look for a succinct response.)

6. Patience

Selling your biggest asset can be understandably stressful and a huge decision to make. When you first engage an agent to undertake appraisals, it’d most likely be the early stages of your decision-making – the likely selling price is a big consideration for most vendors as to whether they actually want to sell. The agent you want is one who follows up, regularly checking in to see if you have made a decision, but doesn’t push you to hurry with your decisions.

Selling your biggest asset can be understandably stressful and a huge decision to make. When you first engage an agent to undertake appraisals, it’d most likely be the early stages of your decision-making – the likely selling price is a big consideration for most vendors as to whether they actually want to sell. The agent you want is one who follows up, regularly checking in to see if you have made a decision, but doesn’t push you to hurry with your decisions.Look

Look for: Persistence but respect – any high-pressure tactics should not be looked upon favourably.

7. Experience

While some new agents can provide you a great service and should not be overlooked based on one factor, experience is usually a critical sign of a good selling agent. This can include property management experience and experience in other related fields, but usually includes plenty of local sales experience. You will want to know upfront how many years they have worked in the industry and their success rate.

Ask: How many homes like mine in this area have you sold in the past 12 months?

8. Honest

Finally, a good sales agent will be honest with you. They should provide you an appraisal that is accurate and true, rather than providing you with an estimate solely to align with your hopes for the property. If the market is slow, they should be upfront with this information. At the end of the day, your sale’s success relies on your ability to strategise with your agent without any concerns they are pulling the wool over your eyes.

Look for: An agent willing to discuss the approach in a slow market, who may even tell you if your hope for the sale price is too bullish.